- Monday, January 27, 2025
While acknowledging that big films have flopped, he emphasised that even small films like “Munjya” have found success
By: India Weekly
R MADHAVAN believes that today’s cinema audiences are prioritising compelling performances over flashy visuals and big-budget promotions.
He stated that regardless of a film’s size, good performances are critical to its success. “Which is a great relief because if you don’t have actors in your films who can truly get into character, deliver their lines well, and impress with their ability to step outside the norm, no one will watch the movie,” Madhavan told PTI.
The actor also commented on the current trend of mass entertainers, particularly from South India, performing well at the box office.
While acknowledging that big films have flopped, he emphasized that even small films like “Munjya” have found success.
“Small films like ‘Munjya‘ for instance have done so well. People looked at films, which were unexpected… At the same time, there have been many large big ticket films that have flopped without a whisper. So, I think it really is a matter of how aspirational and how big screen-friendly the content and the performances are,” he explained.
Madhavan’s latest movie, “Hisaab Barabar”, premiered on ZEE5. Directed by Ashwni Dhir, the film features him as Radhe Mohan Sharma, a railway ticket checker who uncovers a small discrepancy in his bank account, leading to a journey filled with fraud and corruption.
Madhavan explained that financial discrepancies are a common concern for him, making the script relatable. “There are so many accounts and so many SMSes that continuously pop up. But I constantly felt that I am not in control of my bank accounts,” he said.
In his portrayal of Radhe Mohan Sharma, Madhavan focused on making the character relatable. He noted, “He has to seem like somebody who’s believable. So to stay as a common man, as a victim, as a guy who doesn’t want to go out of his shell to do anything humongous was the challenge.”
He also praised Dhir’s ability to blend humour and drama, which Madhavan felt was crucial for the role.
The movie also stars Kirti Kulhari, who plays an honest police officer and Radhe Mohan’s romantic interest.
Regarding his choice of roles, Madhavan shared that he chooses projects based on his emotional connection to the character. “Like this film was right in my alley. The moment I heard it, I knew I was already thinking about a situation like this and I immediately said yes to it,” he said.
Madhavan also reflected on the trend of old films being re-released in theatres, including his own 2001 film “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein”.
He referred to such films as “posthumously, cult films” that gained popularity over time. “For example, ‘Tumbbad’ and ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’, which didn’t do well in theatres when they were first released. But we had a loyal fan following that eventually got to see the film on screen,” he remarked.
Madhavan believes this nostalgia trend is temporary, and that people will soon run out of films to re-release.
He added, “It’s just the flavour of the season. But sometimes the feeling is so strong that current films that are releasing have to worry about these releases as well because people would rather go and watch these films as opposed to the new movies that are releasing.”
